In the midst of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin has categorically dismissed repeated claims that President Vladimir Putin has employed body doubles for public appearances and has disputed recent reports suggesting the leader’s ill health. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rebuffed these allegations in a press briefing on Tuesday, declaring them as baseless and fictitious.
“Everything is fine with him; this is absolutely another fake,” Peskov asserted when asked about an unsourced report by a Russian Telegram channel, which had been picked up by certain Western media outlets. The report had claimed that President Putin had experienced a severe health episode on Sunday evening.
In response to inquiries about the use of body doubles, Peskov responded with a chuckle and a simple denial. “This belongs to the category of absurd information hoaxes that a whole series of media discuss with enviable tenacity. This evokes nothing but a smile,” he added.
Despite speculation, President Putin has remained active and visible in his role as the leader of Russia. Just this month, on October 7, he celebrated his 71st birthday. Known for his athletic pursuits, including a love for judo, Putin has continued to maintain a busy schedule, which often includes televised meetings and public engagements.
As part of his recent agenda, President Putin made a visit to China last week and also stopped in two Russian towns on his way back. Although rumors about the use of body doubles have persisted over the years, Putin himself denied such claims in an interview from 2020. However, he did acknowledge that he had been offered the opportunity to employ body doubles due to security concerns.
Amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the European Union (EU) has implemented a series of extensive sanctions. These measures were enacted on February 25, 2022, the day after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as a means to communicate the seriousness of the situation to Moscow. The EU has introduced a total of 11 different penalty packages thus far, and recent reports indicate their intention to further bolster existing sanctions.
According to EU authorities, these penalties are designed to endure for many years, serving as a robust response to the conflict in Eastern Europe.
